title: Melatonin: its possible role in the management of viral infections--a brief review.
abstract: Melatonin, a versatile molecule, is synthesized by the pineal gland but also by other organs, including gastrointestinal tract, retina, thymus, bone marrow, and by leukocytes. Besides playing an important role in various functions of the body, including sleep and circadian rhythm regulation, melatonin also shows immunoregulatory, free radical scavenger and antioxidant functions. Because of these latter characteristics melatonin has also been found to be effective in fighting viral infections in a variety of experimental animal and in vitro studies. These data suggest a possible therapeutic potential of melatonin in human virus-induced disorders.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy. giovannirossi@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: Giovanni A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008550:Melatonin